Work in ProgressThese are items that are in the process of being catalogued and moved to specific departmental collections.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/2652018-03-20T02:10:23Z2018-03-20T02:10:23ZPost-graduate studies in South Africa : myths, misconceptions and challengesMouton, J.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032352018-03-19T08:01:28Z2007-01-01T00:00:00ZPost-graduate studies in South Africa : myths, misconceptions and challenges
Mouton, J.
The article interrogates some of the current views and myths around the so-called 'inefficiency' of the management of postgraduate studies in South Africa. In this regard data are presented on recent trends in postgraduate completion rates at the doctoral level; as well as on comparative data on throughput rates. I argue that the current discourse in South African higher education is obsessed with concerns of efficiency rather than effectiveness and quality. In this process, we focus too much on managerial and administrative solutions rather than on the challenges posed by academically underprepared postgraduate students.
CITATION: Mouton, J. 2007. Post-graduate studies in South Africa : myths, misconceptions and challenges. South African Journal of Higher Education, 21(1):1078-1090.; The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajhe
2007-01-01T00:00:00ZA comparative evaluation of PDQ-EvidenceJohansen, MaritRada, GabrielRosenbaum, SarahPaulsen, ElizabethMotaze, Nkengafac V.Opiyo, NewtonWiysonge, Charles S.Ding, YunpengMukinda, Fidele K.Oxman, Andrew D.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032332018-03-19T08:05:24Z2018-03-15T00:00:00ZA comparative evaluation of PDQ-Evidence
Johansen, Marit; Rada, Gabriel; Rosenbaum, Sarah; Paulsen, Elizabeth; Motaze, Nkengafac V.; Opiyo, Newton; Wiysonge, Charles S.; Ding, Yunpeng; Mukinda, Fidele K.; Oxman, Andrew D.
A strategy for minimising the time and obstacles to accessing systematic reviews of health system evidence is to collect them in a freely available database and make them easy to find through a simple ‘Google-style’ search interface. PDQ-Evidence was developed in this way. The objective of this study was to compare PDQ-Evidence to six other databases, namely Cochrane Library, EVIPNet VHL, Google Scholar, Health Systems Evidence, PubMed and Trip.
Methods:
We recruited healthcare policy-makers, managers and health researchers in low-, middle- and high-income countries. Participants selected one of six pre-determined questions. They searched for a systematic review that addressed the chosen question and one question of their own in PDQ-Evidence and in two of the other six databases which they would normally have searched. We randomly allocated participants to search PDQ-Evidence first or to search the two other databases first. The primary outcomes were whether a systematic review was found and the time taken to find it. Secondary outcomes were perceived ease of use and perceived time spent searching. We asked open-ended questions about PDQ-Evidence, including likes, dislikes, challenges and suggestions for improvements.
Results:
A total of 89 people from 21 countries completed the study; 83 were included in the primary analyses and 6 were excluded because of data errors that could not be corrected. Most participants chose PubMed and Cochrane Library as the other two databases. Participants were more likely to find a systematic review using PDQ-Evidence than using Cochrane Library or PubMed for the pre-defined questions. For their own questions, this difference was not found. Overall, it took slightly less time to find a systematic review using PDQ-Evidence. Participants perceived that it took less time, and most participants perceived PDQ-Evidence to be slightly easier to use than the two other databases. However, there were conflicting views about the design of PDQ-Evidence.
Conclusions:
PDQ-Evidence is at least as efficient as other databases for finding health system evidence. However, using PDQ-Evidence is not intuitive for some people.
CITATION: Johansen, M., et al. 2018. A comparative evaluation of PDQ-Evidence. Health Research Policy and Systems, 16:27, doi:10.1186/s12961-018-0299-8.; The original publication is available at https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.com
2018-03-15T00:00:00ZDemocratisation of education in South Africa : issues of social justice and the voice of learners?Mncube, Vusumuzihttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032302018-03-19T10:28:22Z2008-01-01T00:00:00ZDemocratisation of education in South Africa : issues of social justice and the voice of learners?
Mncube, Vusumuzi
The South African Schools Act No. 84 of 1996 mandates that secondary school learners, who are members of the Representative Council for Learners, should be part of school governance through participation in school governing bodies.
But they are often not afforded a full opportunity to participate in crucial decisions by the adult members of governing bodies, directly or indirectly. I explore the participation of learners in school governance by means of a literature review and empirical investigation using a qualitative approach. The findings are presented in terms of the role of learners in the school governing
bodies, learners’ involvement in decision making and in curriculum issues, and the role of governing bodies in promoting democracy in the school and in the wider South African society. Findings suggested that spaces should be created for learners to participate sufficiently in SGBs in order to allow them to exercise their right to participation, thus engaging fruitfully in deliberations dealing with school governance. This would in turn lead to social justice and there would be a great potential for their voice to be heard. They would in turn engage fruitfully in dialogues as they felt included in debates and decision-making processes.
Silencing the voice of learners, implicitly or explicitly, means that the issues of social justice and democracy are not taken into consideration in SGBs.
CITATION: Mncube, V. 2008. Democratisation of education in South Africa : issues of social justice and the voice of learners?. South African Journal of Education, 28(1):77–90.; The original publication is available at http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/
2008-01-01T00:00:00ZNon-physical bullying : exploring the perspectives of Grade 5 girlsSwart, EstelleBredekamp, Judithhttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032282018-03-16T13:41:48Z2009-01-01T00:00:00ZNon-physical bullying : exploring the perspectives of Grade 5 girls
Swart, Estelle; Bredekamp, Judith
Research into bullying has generated an awareness of many aspects of this
phenomenon: it has shown a distinction between various types of bullying and
how these are delineated by gender. It has also shown a scarcity of research
on bullying amongst girls, a phenomenon which is rife. We report on a qualitative
study, which explored and described the nature of bullying amongst girls,
in order to make the invisible problem more visible and to make recommendations
for intervention and prevention. In this interpretive study we explored
bullying amongst girls by using the perspectives of Grade 5 girls in a parochial
school in the Western Cape. Data were generated through the use of semistructured
group interviews. We argue that there is no single solution to the
problem. Each situation seems to require a unique set of rules, a unique understanding.
This is supported by the main finding, namely, some girls have
innate characteristics that help maintain bullying while others have characteristics
that protect them from bullying. The environment also plays a large part in
either maintaining bullying or protecting girls from bullying. The implication is
that intervention and preventative strategies need to be based on these personal
and contextual factors in order to effect change.
CITATION: Swart, E. & Bredekamp, J. 2009. Non-physical bullying : exploring the perspectives of Grade 5 girls. South African Journal of Education, 29(3):405-425.; The original publication is available at http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/
2009-01-01T00:00:00ZCombining uncertainties in a court of law using Bayesian networksMuller, M. A.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032262018-03-16T12:06:33Z2017-01-01T00:00:00ZCombining uncertainties in a court of law using Bayesian networks
Muller, M. A.
People generally have difficulty dealing with the counter-intuitive notion of probability, and therefore they often misunderstand aspects of uncertainty. This is particularly significant in a court of law when for example an estimate of the probability of the evidence gets confused with an estimate of the probability of guilt. The circumstantial evidence is especially prone to being handled incorrectly. Professor Fenton at the Queen Mary University of London said, “You could argue that virtually every case with circumstantial evidence is ripe for being improved by Bayesian arguments”.1 In this paper, the evidence in a famous court case is revisited in the context of Bayesian networks.
CITATION: Muller, M. A. 2017. Combining uncertainties in a court of law using Bayesian networks. Obiter, 38(3): 505-516.; The original publication is available at http://journals.co.za/content/journal/10520/EJC-d1fd72038
2017-01-01T00:00:00ZParents as partners : building collaborations to support the development of school readiness skills in under-resourced communitiesPitt, CatherineLuger, RosemaryBullen, AnnPhillips, DianaGeiger, Marthahttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032252018-03-16T13:42:36Z2013-01-01T00:00:00ZParents as partners : building collaborations to support the development of school readiness skills in under-resourced communities
Pitt, Catherine; Luger, Rosemary; Bullen, Ann; Phillips, Diana; Geiger, Martha
The purpose of this paper is to present a preliminary, qualitative review of a therapeutic programme
for preschool children and their parents in severely under-resourced contexts to aid
the development of the underlying skills required to be ready for formal school. A team of two
pairs, each comprising an occupational therapist and a community worker, responded to
teachers’ requests to assist struggling children in their classes. This led to the development of
a programme focusing on Grade R classes, by firstly helping teachers to develop their
capability and confidence in assessing and assisting children to develop the abilities underlying
vital school-readiness skills during whole-class, therapeutic group sessions. Secondly, parent
group sessions were added to empower parents to understand and support their children’s
development needs at home and so to complement the work done by teachers in the classroom.
This second aspect, of working with the parents, developed owing to observations of the
children’s irregular school attendance, scant parent-school contact, and teachers’ reports indicating
that parents were not aware of, nor equipped to deal with, the challenges faced by their
children. Implications for practice, for planning and for further research are discussed.
CITATION: Pitt, C., et al. 2013. Parents as partners : building collaborations to support the development of school readiness skills in under-resourced communities. South African Journal of Education, 33(4):Art.#774, doi:10.15700/201412171334.; The original publication is available at http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZThe impact of single amino acids on growth and volatile aroma production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strainsFairbairn, SamanthaMcKinnon, AlexanderMusarurwa, Hannibal T.Ferreira, Antonio C.Bauer, Florian F.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032222018-03-12T10:02:02Z2017-01-01T00:00:00ZThe impact of single amino acids on growth and volatile aroma production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains
Fairbairn, Samantha; McKinnon, Alexander; Musarurwa, Hannibal T.; Ferreira, Antonio C.; Bauer, Florian F.
Nitrogen availability and utilization by Saccharomyces cerevisiae significantly influence fermentation kinetics and the production of volatile compounds important for wine aroma. Amino acids are the most important nitrogen source and have been classified based on how well they support growth. This study evaluated the effect of single amino acids on growth kinetics and major volatile production of two phenotypically different commercial wine yeast strains in synthetic grape must. Four growth parameters, lag phase, maximum growth rate, total biomass formation and time to complete fermentation were evaluated. In contrast with previous findings, in fermentative conditions, phenylalanine and valine supported growth well and asparagine supported it poorly. The four parameters showed good correlations for most amino acid treatments, with some notable exceptions. Single amino acid treatments resulted in the predictable production of aromatic compounds, with a linear correlation between amino acid concentration and the concentration of aromatic compounds that are directly derived from these amino acids. With the increased complexity of nitrogen sources, linear correlations were lost and aroma production became unpredictable. However, even in complex medium minor changes in amino acid concentration continued to directly impact the formation of aromatic compounds, suggesting that the relative concentration of individual amino acids remains a predictor of aromatic outputs, independently of the complexity of metabolic interactions between carbon and nitrogen metabolism and between amino acid degradation and utilization pathways.
CITATION: Fairbairn, S., et al. 2018. The impact of single amino acids on growth and volatile aroma production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8:2554, doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.02554.; The original publication is available at https://www.frontiersin.org; The original publication is available at http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/microbiology
2017-01-01T00:00:00ZThe inflammatory effects of TNF-α and complement component 3 on coagulationPage, Martin J.Bester, JanettePretorius, Etheresiahttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032212018-03-12T09:02:00Z2018-01-01T00:00:00ZThe inflammatory effects of TNF-α and complement component 3 on coagulation
Page, Martin J.; Bester, Janette; Pretorius, Etheresia
Tissue necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and complement component 3 (C3) are two well-known pro-inflammatory molecules. When TNF-α is upregulated, it contributes to changes in coagulation and causes C3 induction. They both interact with receptors on platelets and erythrocytes (RBCs). Here, we look at the individual effects of C3 and TNF-α, by adding low levels of the molecules to whole blood and platelet poor plasma. We used thromboelastography, wide-field microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to study blood clot formation, as well as structural changes to RBCs and platelets. Clot formation was significantly different from the naïve sample for both the molecules. Furthermore, TNF-α exposure to whole blood resulted in platelet clumping and activation and we noted spontaneous plasma protein dense matted deposits. C3 exposure did not cause platelet aggregation, and only slight pseudopodia formation was noted. Therefore, although C3 presence has an important function to cause TNF-α release, it does not necessarily by itself cause platelet activation or RBC damage at these low concentrations. We conclude by suggesting that our laboratory results can be translated into clinical practice by incorporating C3 and TNF-α measurements into broad spectrum analysis assays, like multiplex technology, as a step closer to a patient-orientated, precision medicine approach.
CITATION: Page, M. J., Bester, J. & Pretorius, E. 2018. The inflammatory effects of TNF-α and complement component 3 on coagulation. Scientific Reports, 8:1812, doi:10.1038/s41598-018-20220-8.; The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosone; Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
2018-01-01T00:00:00ZLipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) can reverse the amyloid state of fibrin seen or induced in Parkinson's diseasePretorius, EtheresiaPage, Martin J.Mbotwe, SthembileKell, Douglas B.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032202018-03-12T08:01:53Z2018-01-01T00:00:00ZLipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) can reverse the amyloid state of fibrin seen or induced in Parkinson's disease
Pretorius, Etheresia; Page, Martin J.; Mbotwe, Sthembile; Kell, Douglas B.
The thrombin-induced polymerisation of fibrinogen to form fibrin is well established as a late stage of blood clotting. It is known that Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is accompanied by dysregulation in blood clotting, but it is less widely known as a coagulopathy. In recent work, we showed that the presence of tiny amounts of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in healthy individuals could cause clots to adopt an amyloid form, and this could be observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or via the fluorescence of thioflavin-T. This could be prevented by the prior addition of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP). We had also observed by SEM this unusual clotting in the blood of patients with Parkinson’s Disease. We hypothesised, and here show, that this too can be prevented by LBP in the context of PD. This adds further evidence implicating inflammatory microbial cell wall products as an accompaniment to the disease, and may be part of its aetiology. This may lead to novel treatment strategies in PD designed to target microbes and their products.
CITATION: Pretorius, E., et al. 2018. Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) can reverse the amyloid state of fibrin seen or induced in Parkinson's disease. PLoS ONE, 13(3):e0192121, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192121.; The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosone; Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
2018-01-01T00:00:00ZSubstance use and self-harm : a cross-sectional study of the prevalence, correlates and patterns of medical service utilisation among patients admitted to a South African hospitalBreet, ElsieBantjes, JasonLewis, Ianhttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032192018-03-12T10:33:38Z2018-03-06T00:00:00ZSubstance use and self-harm : a cross-sectional study of the prevalence, correlates and patterns of medical service utilisation among patients admitted to a South African hospital
Breet, Elsie; Bantjes, Jason; Lewis, Ian
Background:
Substance use is a potentially modifiable risk factor for suicidal behaviour. Little is known about the epidemiology of substance use among self-harm patients in South Africa. This study set out to collect epidemiological data about the prevalence, correlates, and patterns of medical service utilisation among self-harm patients who used substances at the time of self-injury.
Methods:
Data from 238 consecutive self-harm patients treated at an urban hospital in South Africa were analysed using bivariate and multivariate statistics.
Results
Approximately 20% of patients reported substance use at the time of self-harm. When compared to other self-harm patients, higher rates of patients who had used substances: had depressed levels of consciousness on admission; utilised more medical resources and required longer hospital admissions; cited relationship difficulties and financial concerns as reasons for their self-harm; reported a previous episode of self-harm; and intended to die as a result of their injuries. Although the observed differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), the proportional differences were congruent with international literature.
Conclusion:
Acute use of substances among self-harm patients warrants more focused research and clinical attention particularly in the context of reducing utilisation of scarce medical resources.
CITATION: Breet, E., Bantjes, J. & Lewis, I. 2018. Substance use and self-harm : a cross-sectional study of the prevalence, correlates and patterns of medical service utilisation among patients admitted to a South African hospital. BMC Health Services Research, 18:157, doi:10.1186/s12913-018-2963-7.; The original publication is available at https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com
2018-03-06T00:00:00ZThe relationship between childhood adversity, recent stressors, and depression in college students attending a South African universityMall, SumayaMortier, PhilippeTaljaard, LianRoos, JanineStein, Dan J.Lochner, Christinehttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032182018-03-12T11:02:29Z2018-03-09T00:00:00ZThe relationship between childhood adversity, recent stressors, and depression in college students attending a South African university
Mall, Sumaya; Mortier, Philippe; Taljaard, Lian; Roos, Janine; Stein, Dan J.; Lochner, Christine
Background:
College students are at risk of depression. This risk may be increased by the experience of childhood adversity and/or recent stressors. This study examined the association between reported experiences of childhood adversity, recent stressors and depression during the last 12 months in a cohort of South African university students.
Methods:
Six hundred and eighty-six first year students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa completed a health-focused e-survey that included items on childhood adversity, recent stressors and mood. Individual and population attributable risk proportions (PARP) between experiences of childhood adversity and 12-month stressful experiences and 12-month depression were estimated using multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis.
Results:
About one in six students reported depression during the last 12 months. Being a victim of bullying and emotional abuse or emotional neglect during childhood were the strongest predictors of depression in the past year at both individual and population level. With regard to recent stressors, a romantic partner being unfaithful, serious ongoing arguments or break-ups with some other close friend or family member and a sexual or gender identity crisis were the strongest predictors of depression. The predictor effect of recent stressors was significantly reduced in the final model that adjusted for the type and number of childhood traumatic experiences. At a population level, academic stress, serious ongoing arguments or break-ups with a close friend or family member, and serious betrayal by someone close were the variables that yielded the highest PARP.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest a significant relationship between early adversity, recent stressors, and depression here and throughout, consistent with the broader literature on predictors of depression. This study contributes to the limited data on college students’ mental health in low and middle income countries including on the African continent. The findings provide information on the population level effect sizes of trauma as a risk factor for depression, as well as on the relationship between specific recent stressors and depression in college students.
CITATION: Mall, S., et al, 2018. The relationship between childhood adversity, recent stressors, and depression in college students attending a South African university. BMC Psychiatry, 18:63, doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1583-9.; The original publication is available at https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com
2018-03-09T00:00:00ZRules of engagement : perspectives on stakeholder engagement for genomic biobanking research in South AfricaStaunton, CiaraTindana, PaulinaHendricks, MelanyMoodley, Keymanthrihttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032162018-03-12T15:02:15Z2018-02-27T00:00:00ZRules of engagement : perspectives on stakeholder engagement for genomic biobanking research in South Africa
Staunton, Ciara; Tindana, Paulina; Hendricks, Melany; Moodley, Keymanthri
Background:
Genomic biobanking research is undergoing exponential growth in Africa raising a host of legal, ethical and social issues. Given the scientific complexity associated with genomics, there is a growing recognition globally of the importance of science translation and community engagement (CE) for this type of research, as it creates the potential to build relationships, increase trust, improve consent processes and empower local communities. Despite this level of recognition, there is a lack of empirical evidence of the practise and processes for effective CE in genomic biobanking in Africa.
Methods:
To begin to address this vacuum, 17 in-depth face to face interviews were conducted with South African experts in genomic biobanking research and CE to provide insight into the process, benefits and challenges of CE in South Africa. Emerging themes were analysed using a contextualised thematic approach.
Results:
Several themes emerged concerning the conduct of CE in genomic biobanking research in Africa. Although the literature tends to focus on the local community in CE, respondents in this study described three different layers of stakeholder engagement: community level, peer level and high level. Community level engagement includes potential participants, community advisory boards (CAB) and field workers; peer level engagement includes researchers, biobankers and scientists, while high level engagement includes government officials, funders and policy makers. Although education of each stakeholder layer is important, education of the community layer can be most challenging, due to the complexity of the research and educational levels of stakeholders in this layer.
Conclusion:
CE is time-consuming and often requires an interdisciplinary research team approach. However careful planning of the engagement strategy, including an understanding of the differing layers of stakeholder engagement, and the specific educational needs at each layer, can help in the development of a relationship based on trust between the research team and various stakeholder groups. Since the community layer often comprises vulnerable populations in low and middle income countries (LMICs), co-development of innovative educational tools on genomic biobanking is essential. CE is clearly a component of a broader process best described as stakeholder engagement.
CITATION: Staunton, C., et al. 2018. Rules of engagement : perspectives on stakeholder engagement for genomic biobanking research in South Africa. BMC Medical Ethics, 19:13, doi:10.1186/s12910-018-0252-y.; The original publication is available at https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com
2018-02-27T00:00:00ZCost analysis of rapid diagnostics for drug-resistant tuberculosisGroessl, Erik J.Ganiats, Theodore G.Hillery, NaomiTrollip, AndreJackson, Roberta L.Catanzaro, Donald G.Rodwell, Timothy C.Garfein, Richard S.Rodrigues, CamillaCrudu, ValeriuVictor, Thomas C.Catanzaro, Antoninohttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032152018-03-13T07:07:19Z2018-03-02T00:00:00ZCost analysis of rapid diagnostics for drug-resistant tuberculosis
Groessl, Erik J.; Ganiats, Theodore G.; Hillery, Naomi; Trollip, Andre; Jackson, Roberta L.; Catanzaro, Donald G.; Rodwell, Timothy C.; Garfein, Richard S.; Rodrigues, Camilla; Crudu, Valeriu; Victor, Thomas C.; Catanzaro, Antonino
Background:
Growth-based drug susceptibility testing (DST) is the reference standard for diagnosing drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), but standard time to result (TTR) is typically ≥ 3 weeks. Rapid tests can reduce that TTR to days or hours, but accuracy may be lowered.
In addition to the TTR and test accuracy, the cost of a diagnostic test may affect whether it is adopted in clinical settings. We examine the cost-effectiveness of rapid diagnostics for extremely drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) in three different high-prevalence settings.
Methods:
1128 patients with confirmed TB were enrolled at clinics in Mumbai, India; Chisinau, Moldova; and Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Patient sputum samples underwent DST for first and second line TB drugs using 2 growth-based (MGIT, MODS) and 2 molecular (Pyrosequencing [PSQ], line-probe assays [LPA]) assays. TTR was the primary measure of effectiveness. Sensitivity and specificity were also evaluated. The cost to perform each test at each site was recorded and included test-specific materials, personnel, and equipment costs. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated in terms of $/day saved. Sensitivity analyses examine the impact of batch size, equipment, and personnel costs.
Results:
Our prior results indicated that the LPA and PSQ returned results in a little over 1 day. Mean cost per sample without equipment or overhead was $23, $28, $33, and $41 for the MODS, MGIT, PSQ, and LPA, respectively. For diagnosing XDR-TB, MODS was the most accurate, followed by PSQ, and LPA. MODS was quicker and less costly than MGIT. PSQ and LPA were considerably faster but cost more than MODS. Batch size and personnel costs were the main drivers of cost variation.
Conclusions:
Multiple factors must be weighed when selecting a test for diagnosis of XDR-TB. Rapid tests can greatly improve the time required to diagnose drug-resistant TB, potentially improving treatment success, and preventing the spread of XDR-TB. Faster time to result must be weighed against the potential for reduced accuracy, and increased costs.
CITATION: Groessl, E. J., et al. 2018. Cost analysis of rapid diagnostics for drug-resistant tuberculosis. BMC Infectious Diseases, 18:102, doi:10.1186/s12879-018-3013-0.; The original publication is available at https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com
2018-03-02T00:00:00ZDie reformatoriese verstaan van die geloofsgemeenskap (gemeente) as ’n publieke gemeenskapBurger, Coeniehttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032142018-03-06T09:25:26Z2008-01-01T00:00:00ZDie reformatoriese verstaan van die geloofsgemeenskap (gemeente) as ’n publieke gemeenskap
Burger, Coenie
This article focuses on the Reformed theological understanding of the church as a
public church. Although the Reformation did not know the term ‘public church’, the
concept behind the term was from the beginning intrinsic to the Reformed ecclesiology.
The article further argues that the specific Reformed contribution to the
term lies in two unique emphases: firstly, their grounding of a public understanding
of the church in a public understanding of the Gospel, and secondly, a strong
commitment not only to ideas and visions but also to practical plans and strategies.
In the second part of the article these principles are applied to the current South
African situation.
CITATION: Burger, C. 2008. Die reformatoriese verstaan van die geloofsgemeenskap (gemeente) as ’n publieke gemeenskap. Scriptura, 99:247-258, doi:10.7833/99-0-666.; The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za
2008-01-01T00:00:00ZThe sources of South African equity fund performanceLester, N.Corubolo, D.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032122018-03-05T11:02:01Z2015-01-01T00:00:00ZThe sources of South African equity fund performance
Lester, N.; Corubolo, D.
ABSTRACT
This paper aims to quantify some of the sources of South African equity fund performance. In
particular, it aims to provide insights into the relative importance of sector allocation and stock
selection as factors to consider in constructing actively managed portfolios. This analysis is done
considering the constraint of a concentrated South African market environment. To partially
account for this constraint, an assumption of three equity “super sectors”—financial, industrial
and resources—is made.
To quantify the sources of equity fund returns, a geometric attribution analysis was conducted
on the returns of seven South African equity unit trust funds. An attribution decomposition of
the seven funds’ tracking error and volatility was also performed to enable a risk adjustment to
be made.
The results of these attribution analyses indicated that it is possible to source excess returns
through both selection and allocation efforts. Furthermore, the attribution analysis also
revealed different levels of success at earning excess returns per sector. South African equity
fund managers also demonstrated skill in reducing risk over the sample period, as the majority
of the managers were able to reduce portfolio risk relative to the benchmark portfolio, but
still source excess returns. It is, however, important to note that these results are influenced by
market structure and manager practices.
CITATION: Lester, N. & Corubolo, D. 2015. The sources of South African equity fund performance. In Actuarial Society 2015 Convention, 17–18 November 2015, Sandton Convention Centre, Sandton, Johannesburg.; The original publication is available at http://actuarialsocietyconvention.org.za
2015-01-01T00:00:00ZCatastrophe modelling : deriving the 1-in-200 year mortality shock for a South African insurer’s capital requirements under Solvency AssessmentPlantinga, A. A.Corubolo, D. J.Clover, R. J.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032112018-03-05T08:01:16Z2015-01-01T00:00:00ZCatastrophe modelling : deriving the 1-in-200 year mortality shock for a South African insurer’s capital requirements under Solvency Assessment
Plantinga, A. A.; Corubolo, D. J.; Clover, R. J.
This paper investigates catastrophe risk for South African life insurers by considering the additional
deaths that could arise from a 1-in-200 year mortality shock. Existing South African academic research
on catastrophic risk has mostly focused on property losses and the resulting impact on property
insurance companies. Life catastrophe risks have not been extensively modelled in a South African
context. Local research would be beneficial in terms of quantifying these catastrophic risks for South
African life insurers, and would assist firms when assessing their own catastrophe mortality solvency
requirements under the new Solvency Assessment and Management (SAM) regime by providing a
summary of data relating to various past catastrophes.
In this paper we model a wide range of catastrophes to assess such mortality risk faced by life
insurance companies in South Africa. An extensive exercise was undertaken to obtain data for a wide
range of catastrophes and these data were used to derive severity and frequency distributions for each
type of catastrophe. Data relating to global events were used to supplement South African data where
local data were sparse. Data sources included official government statistics, industry reports and
historical news reports. Since, by nature, catastrophic events are rare, little data are available for certain
types of catastrophe. This means there is a large degree of uncertainty underlying some of the estimates.
Simulation techniques were used to derive estimated distributions for the potential number of deaths for
particular catastrophic events. The calculated overall shock for the national population was 2.6 deaths
per thousand, which was lower than the SAM Pillar 1 shock of 3.2 deaths per thousand for the same population. It has been found that a worldwide pandemic is by far the main risk in terms of number of
deaths in a catastrophe and, given that this is the most significant component of catastrophe risk, prior
research on this risk in an South African context is summarised and revisited.
CITATION: Plantinga, A. A., Corubolo, D. J. & Clover, R. J. 2015. Catastrophe modelling : deriving the 1-in-200 year mortality shock for a South African insurer’s capital requirements under Solvency Assessment. South African Actuarial Journal, 15:51–92, doi:10.4314/saaj.v15i1.3.
2015-01-01T00:00:00ZThe feeling of time : Bonhoeffer on temporality and the fully human lifeVosloo, Roberthttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032102018-03-02T07:01:29Z2008-01-01T00:00:00ZThe feeling of time : Bonhoeffer on temporality and the fully human life
Vosloo, Robert
This essay explores the notion of temporality in Bonhoeffer’s thought. After an
introductory reference to an early text of Bonhoeffer that reveals his passion for
movement and the moment, the essay comments briefly on the direction of
Emmanuel Levinas’s reflections on temporality. It is argued that both Levinas and
Bonhoeffer link their understanding of temporality to otherness and death. The main
part of the essay traces Bonhoeffer’s understanding of the timeful nature of reality,
with special reference to his Berlin dissertations, Sanctorum Communio and Act
and Being, two of his Barcelona sermons, his Ethics and his Prison writings. The
last section of the essay offers Bonhoeffer’s timeful engagement with life as a
challenge to a reductive economization of time.
CITATION: Vosloo, R. 2008. The feeling of time : Bonhoeffer on temporality and the fully human life. Scriptura, 99:337-349, doi:10.7833/99-0-674; The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za
2008-01-01T00:00:00ZHow is Robert Jenson telling the story?Verhoef, Anne H.http://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032092018-03-02T07:01:10Z2008-01-01T00:00:00ZHow is Robert Jenson telling the story?
Verhoef, Anne H.
This essay focuses on how the well-known Lutheran theologian Robert Jenson is
telling the Christian story. It gives an introduction on Robert Jenson as a person
and then shows how his theology can be summarised with reference to three
interrelated themes, namely: Trinity, Time and Church. Jenson is a trinitarian
theologian. In his understanding that cannot be separated from being a narrative
theologian. According to him, the Christian story is a story of hope and its
eschatology must be able to survive any criticism – such as the Marxist and the
ecological ones. If Jenson thus asks how the End will be, he does not see it as a
repristination of the beginning, but as a sublimation – our end is inclusion in God’s
life. The article concludes his sort of ‘theology of hope’ is one that can help
Christians against the threat of nihilism.
CITATION: Verhoef, A. H. 2008. How is Robert Jenson telling the story?. Scriptura, 98:231-243, doi:10.7833/98-0-708.; The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za
2008-01-01T00:00:00ZForm, Word and Spirit : the centrality of the cross in Noordmans’s critical narrativeTheron, Fliphttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032082018-03-01T11:02:08Z2008-01-01T00:00:00ZForm, Word and Spirit : the centrality of the cross in Noordmans’s critical narrative
Theron, Flip
This article deals with the pastoral-critical theology of the prominent Dutch
theologian, Oepke Noordmans, in which the concepts ‘form, Word and Spirit’ play a
major role. In contrast to a ‘closed system’, his theology can be described as a
‘coherent hi-story’ with a trinitarian structure. His use of notions such as ‘school
and church’, ‘absolute moment and continuity’, ‘cogito ergo sum and cogitur ergo
sum’, ‘creation as accommodation’, the ‘dogma as grammar of the Gospel’, and
‘Paul comes and Peter goes’, are discussed. Attention is given to his (contrasting)
relation to the early and later Barth. The article culminates in discussing the
relation between the crucified Christ and the Holy Spirit.
CITATION: Theron, F. 2008. Form, Word and Spirit : the centrality of the cross in Noordmans’s critical narrative. Scriptura, 98:185-193, doi:10.7833/98-0-704.; The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za
2008-01-01T00:00:00ZHoe vertel hulle die storie? Oor Karl BarthSmit, Dirkiehttp://scholar.sun.ac.za:80/handle/10019.1/1032072018-03-09T06:03:00Z2008-01-01T00:00:00ZHoe vertel hulle die storie? Oor Karl Barth
Smit, Dirkie
The paper argues that the theme of the consultation on “How are they telling the
story?”, raises complex but intriguing questions when put to the theology of Karl
Barth. In a straightforward way, the question seems to be whether Barth himself
regarded story (or narrative) as the appropriate way “to gather the fragments”
(Ernst Conradie) of the Christian faith, of the Biblical message, of the proclamation
of the Church. Barth scholarship has been divided over this question for many
years. While some well-known Barth scholars maintain that his theology was indeed
a form of narrative theology, sometimes claimed about his doctrine of
reconciliation, sometimes claimed about the whole of the Church Dogmatics, other
prominent scholars disagree and argue that the structure or movement within his
theology was much more determined by reflection and discursive argument than by
story and plot. In an attempt to take the question (and this ongoing scholarly
controversy) seriously, the paper points in a second section to six formal but
characteristic ways in which Barth dealt with stories. In a next section the question
is taken a step further, when it is argued that materially, behind these formal
characteristics, Barth saw indeed no meta-narrative, but rather a Person, a Living
One, about whom he spoke by means of a “Trinitarian grammar.” A brief
conclusion therefore claims that Barth’s theology was called forth by “the scandal
of particularity,” indeed coming in story form, but calling for reflection and
argument, witness and proclamation, and prayer and life, rather than for further
story-telling.
CITATION: Smit, D. 2008. Hoe vertel hulle die storie? oor Karl Barth. Scriptura, 98:174-184, doi:10.7833/98-0-703.; The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za
2008-01-01T00:00:00Z